Do you think we put kids on a drugs so we don't have to deal with their problems?

thank goodness for technology and advances in medicine. back in the day before meds kids with behavioral problems were put under a bushell basket- it still happens in some societies today. if the meds help- why not ?

In some cases yes and in some no. If you give your child meds prescibed by a doctor than no. You are doing what needs to be done to help your child. Now if you give your child Benedryl or cold medicine just so they will come down or go to sleep so they will get out of your hair, yes. *please not my use of the word "you" isn't directed at you personally ;-)*

I don't know. I think there is good and bad in medicating kids young. I think if they are diagnosed and have an obvious issue, getting them set on meds can help them cope with their day like the other kids. School seems more strict now than it did when I was younger and more seems to be expected (behaviorally) than it used to be. Whatever can help the child be able to focus their energy and do the work that is expected of them I think can be a good thing.

That said, I do think that there is a tendency towards over diagnosis of these issues.  

I cannot agree with this. I have a niece who is on strong ADHD medication. Before, she couldn't focus on school work, her grades were bad, there was hardly any floor left to walk in her bedroom (stuff thrown all over), she couldn't even dress herself without someone checking on her (and she was 13). After the medication, she's calm, she finishes her work, her room is kept clean, and her grades are excellent. She's noticed a difference in herself, that she cried and asked why wasn't the medication given to her sooner. There was never a change in focus of attention given to her from her parents.

My 1st grader just started taking meds for her ADHD last week and trust me we've tried everything. She's on a low dose and we are working with the school, working at home, with her doctor and a child psychiatrist. I'm not just trying to forget her problems I'm trying to help her with them.

yes

They had my child on strattera for a few months.  I took her off because I didn't like the way it made her.  The school really tried to get me to put her back on it, but her therapist told me not to if I didn't like how she was acting on it.  But to each their own. 

No. I think parents do it as a way to help their kids. Most parents at least, I'm sure there are a few who do it for selfish reasons.